Window blind



April 28, 1953 A. L. LIGHT EAL WINDOW BLIND 5 Sheets-Shes?l l Filed Feb. 23, 1950 ZZ wir?? INVENIOR@ @ma ha ,q/za? 'BY May/m9 ime,

Apnl 28, 1953 A LIGHT E-[AL A2,636,556

wmnfow Bunn, 1 Filed Feb. 23, 195D 4 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToRe.

Apnl 28, 1953 A.L. 4.1G|11' Erm..

WINDOW BLIND 's sheets-sheet 5 Filed Feb. 23, 1950 INVENTORS- ,fd-4Q ....H ISIIII lllll Patented Apr. 28, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENTl OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to Window blinds of the generally Venetian blind type, and particularly to a new and novel form of adjustable Venetian blind.

Venetian blinds of the well-known type are provided with a plurality of horizontal superposed strips of material mounted for rotational movement simultaneously around their longitudinal axes. Mechanism is usually supplied for the purpose of raising and lowering the blind so that when the blind is elevated the plurality of horizontal strips become grouped together at the top of the blind. Blinds of this type have certain inherent disadvantages which include the difficulty of cleaning, the expense involved in adapting the blinds to windows of various widths, and the mechanism involved is usually expensive.

The Venetian blind of the present invention is provided with a plurality of vertical positioned strips of material in overlapping'relation, and one of the principal objects of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages inherent in the present known type of blind as enumerated above.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Venetian blind wherein a plurality of vertical strips-of material are positioned in overlapping relation and which may be rotated about both ends thereof simultaneously to move the strips Vbetween open and closed positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Venetian blind wherein a plurality of overlapping vertically positioned strips of material are .adapted to be wound around rollers positioned at the ends thereof thereby to permit the blind to be raised or lowered. In order that the strips may be overlapping, the rollers are located at the bottoms of alternate strips and at the tops of the other alternate strips.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a Venetian blind with a plurality of vertical overlapping strips of material, wherein the rollers at opposite ends of alternate strips have axed thereto wiping members between which the strips are located, so that when the blind is raised or lowered the accumulated dust and dirt on the strips will be removed by the action of the wiping members, whereby the blind will be self-cleaning.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a Venetian blind having a plurality ofoverlapping strips of material, wherein each strip and its attached roller and rotating mechanism, may be applied. separately as a unit, whereby the width of the window `will determine the number of units tv .be used ,in any particular case..

Still another object of the invention is to provide a Venetian blind having a plurality of overlapping vertical strips of material wherein mechanism is provided to lower the blind from the top as well as to raise the blind from the bottom.

Still another and more specic object of the invention is to provide a Venetian blind having a plurality of overlapping vertical strips of material wherein mechanism is provided at the top and bottom of the blind for rotating the individual strips simultaneously about their longitudinal axes and wherein a, single operating lever arm may be manually controlled for actuating the rotating mechanism at the top and bottom.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accoml panying drawings in which:

, Fig. 1 is an enlarged elevational view of a Venetian blind in accordance with the present invention with certain parts broken away for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the blind illustrating its appearance when lowered from the top;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the appearance of the blind raised from the bottom;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the assembled blind showing the individual strips thereof in partially rotated position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the sections of the supporting plate on which the individual strips and rollers are mounted;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view similar to Fig. fl, but showing the rotating mechanism as itappears when the vertical strips have been moved to closed position;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the plane of line 1 ,1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the roller Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view throughv one of the rollers.

Referring now more particularly to the draw- `ings and especially to Fig. 1, the numeral I repvresents in general a window frame to which the Venetian blind of the present invention may be applied. The window frame is provided with the usual sides 2 and 3, the top 4 and bottom 5. The

blind is adapted to be inserted within the connes of the window frame, and is provided with a plurality of strips of material identified by the numeral B and a plurality of alternate strips identied by the numeral 1.

A Each of the alternate strips 6 is .provided latits lower end with a roller member 8 provided with a suitable frame in which the roller is mounted and with a pinion 9 on the underside thereof. The upper end of each of the alternate strips 6 has aixed thereto an elongated pin i provided with a pinion II at the upper end thereof.

Each of the alternate strips 'l has a roller I2 at the upper end thereof. provided with a pinion I3. The lower end of; each alternatestrip 'i has' a pin Ill affixed thereto which pin is provided with a pinion I at its lower end. Since the. rollers 8 and I2 are substantially the same width as each or". the strips 6 and 1, it is necessaryrtof position these rollers at opposite end-sA of alter-- nate strips in order that the strips themselves may overlap when in closed position;

The rollers and rotating mechanisml at the upper part of the blind Vare shielded from View by a housing structure which includes a horizontally positioned'A plate i5'. anda vertically positioned cover plate Il' extending' downwardly therefrom. The pinionsl II and IBat` the top of the blind are suitablysecured to the platel IG'by means of suitable pivot pins |85 The rollers and: rotatingV mechanism at the bottom of the blind are` likewise concealed by means of.' a bottom' plate I9-'and aY front cover plate extending upwardly from'the forward edge thereof. The pinions and I5 which form a part of. the rotating-mechanism at the bottom of the blind' are mounted'byfany suitablek means' in the bottom plateV I9.'

A guide strip 2lis located ateach side'of'the window frame forv the purpose" oi guiding the blind when it. is raised' or" lowered. The guide strip 2l is adapted to cooperatewith suitable-v rollers 22A at each side ofv the top` andA bottom cover plates so that when the blind" israised or lowered the guide strips 2'I'will'formfa track on which the rollers 22"Will ride; ltwillbegevident that the speciiic form of guide means, may beA variedjas long asit serves the purposeof` guiding the blind in its vertical'movements: Ears 23 -and 24, aiiixed to the top cover plate I6 are adapted tohave, secured thereto cords Y25 and 26. These cordspass aroundthe respectiveipulleys 2'! 4an'd'i locatedatthe topof the window frame. The cords 25' and'ZE then eXtend'outwardlyat one side ofthe blind and around'a pulley 2Q withthe ends thereof` hanging,A downwardly and'. available to be graspedlfor the purpose of loweringpthe blind from the top. Any suitable form of locking' mechanism.common'inVenetian blinds may be usedin connection with the pulley29. The lock= ing mechanism is adapted to be releasedgupon manipulation ofthe cords 25'and 26whereupon gravity willpermitthetop partJof the-blind to be guidingly, lowered along the guidecmem-bersz I.- Each of the roller membersfand l2 is'provided with a spring so that when ,the topi ofthe' blindA isl lowered the rollers will causen theindividual stripsto be wound thereon.

The. bottom plateA I9 has: ai cord lamxed thereto which lis adapted'to pass throughalockring mechanism* 3l of` any suitableand` wellknown type: Thespringsdn `the rollers: 8 and I 2 will have a tendency'to'dravv `tlieupperand'lowerl ends of theblindtogether: The locking-I mecha'- nism 3l at the bottom'of theblind `through'which the' cord 3G* passes is adapted` to' maintain the bottom of the blind iinits-lowered'position: When ther cord 38 -is`-manipulated to release 'the locking mechanism 3l, the force*of*the-springs= inthel end of the blind to be elevated. The appearance of the blind when the top part is lowered and when the bottom part is raised will be like that shown in Figs. 2 and 3, respectively.

Fig. 9 illustrates one of the rollers, and since all of the rollers have similar construction, a description of one will sulce for all. The roller of Fig. 9 indicated generally by the numeral I2 isgenerally tubular in shape and. is closed at one end by a removable plate. 32'. The roller has a shaft 33 passing therethrough to which is -aixed a.. coil spring 34. The outer ends of the shaft 33 are mounted in ears 35 formed as an integral part of eachv end 36 of a frame 3l' (Fig. 8). The pinions 9. and I3 are aixed to the respective lower and upper rollers 8 and I2 so that when the pinions are caused to rotate, the roller attached thereto. will also have a rotative movement.

The bottom plate I 9 has an elongated rack 33 mounted thereon and extending along the rear edge thereofi This rack 38 is in mesh with all of the pinions l-v and I5 xed respectively to the rollersV 8` and pinsv I4. The rack 38 is mounted for longitudinal movement and the operation thereof may be more clearly understood by viewing Figs. 4 and 6L It will -be evident that when the rack 38 is caused to move longitudinally, it will impart a rotative movement to all of the pinions 9 andA I5`and cause the strips of material associated therewithy to be rotated about their longitudinal axes. In order to move the rack 33' longitudinally, there is provided a gear member 39 mounted'for rotation about a pivot 4t on'the bottom piated'i' The gear 39' has an arm orhandle portion lil extending forwardly through a suitable opening in' the bottom front cover platefzll The gearSS is in mesh with the pinion 9' and when it is caused to rotate Vby manual movement' of the arm 4I, it will, in turn, cause the pinion 9 to rotate' thereby imparting a longitudinal movementv to the rack 38. previously, this movement of rack 38 will also rotatethe other pinions Siand I5 in mesh therewith to cause a rotative movement of the individual stripsl Sfand l.

Another-pinion 42 isfpositioned adjacent the gea-ry 3B' and is in mesli therewith. The pinion 4`2`has'a rectangular opening therein adapted to receive a'vertical rod or'bar 43 which extends from the bottom i'rof 'the window frame through the bottom plate Iil` upwardly through the top plate` lto thetop fiof theV window frame. A second; pinion M is mounted for rotation in a suitable bracket afxed to the underside of the top plate i6 `and also has a rectangular opening therein adaptedto receive the rectangular rod'or bar 43S The pinion 44 is directly in mesh with a gear i5-:also `mounted for'rotation on theA tudinal 1movement thereof "will rotate these pinions thereby causing the ltop part of each vertical strip {3T-and' I'lto rotate about the longitudinal l axis-tliereof. When the arm- 4-I is manipulated toA openA or f close the f vertical strips; the rotation of'gear 39' will rotate-pinion 42S This will, in

turn', cause -th'everticalbar '43*to rotateas well as-the pinionII-adjacent the-top endthereof. Rotationiofthe'pinionM-willrotate the-gear d5 andpinion II to reciprocatefthe'V upperrack litiv lat the1 same rate and" for 'thev same distance` as the bottom rackfSl ThusFalrotatingr-mecha- As explained nism is provided at both the upper and lower ends of each of the strips 6 and 1 to overcome any twisting of the strips when they are moved between open and closed positions.

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate that the vertical connecting bar 43 is stationary except for its rotative movement, and when the top or bottom end of the blind is lowered or raised, these ends will move with respect to the bar 43.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate the details of the respective rollers B and I2, and it has been pointed out hereinbefore that the rollers are each mounted in a frame such as shown at 31 in Fig. 8. The identical frame is used for both the upper and lower rollers by merely reversing the position thereof as may be clearly seen in Fig. '7. 'I'he frame 31 is generally U-shaped and is provided with the spaced vertically extending legs 3E. The opposite ends of the legs 35 are connected together by straps 41 and 48 which are located in spaced apart relation. The inner opposed edges of these straps 41 and 48 are provided with wiping members 49 and 50. The strip of material which is wound around the roller is adapted to pass through the frame and between the wiping members 45 and 50 which may be formed of any suitable relatively soft material such as felt, or the like. The wiping action of these members on the individual strips E and 1 will take place whether the top of the blind is lowered or the bottom of the blind is raised. Thus, the blind of the present invention has the unique feature of being self-cleaning.

A further advantage in the self-cleaning feature resides in the easy replacement of the wiping members when they become worn or dirty because the strapsv41 and 48 to which they are amxed may be easily removed from the frame 31. Either or both of the straps 41 and 43 may be removed and replaced by other straps having new wiping members attached thereto.

A further feature of the invention resides in the ease with which the blind may be adjusted for windows of various widths. As explained above, each strip of material together with its attached roller and the pinions I3 and I5 constitutes a unit by itself. Thus, the upper plate I6 and bottom plate i9 each constitute a plurality of individual sections such as that indicated by the numeral 5I in Fig. 5. Each section embodies a base portion 52 with upwardly extending flange portions 53 and 54 at the rear and front thereof, respectively. The front ianged portion 54 has a slot extending the length thereof substantially in the form of a keyhole as shown at 55. One end of the ange portions 53 and 54 has a pin 56 extending outwardly therefrom. Each pin is adapted to be received within a corresponding recess 51 in the adjacent section. This bottom section, as shown in Fig. 5, is identical with the corresponding sections comprising the top plate l5, as may be seen in Fig. 7. The rollers I2 with the strip of material 1 wound thereon is aixed to an upper section with its pinion i3. The pin i4 aixed to the opposite end of the strip 1 is then assembled with the pinion l5 thereon to a bottom section like that shown in Fig. 5. Depending upon the width of the window, any suitable number of these units may be placed side by side after which a cover plate or valance li is assembled with the upper sections and a similar cover plate or Valance 20 is assembled with the lower sections. Each of the cover plates l1 and 20 is provided with a rearwardly extending flange having a bead from the top by merely releasing the locking thereon adapted to fit into the elongated keyhole slot of the individual sections. This construction enables all of the sections to be held together, and the only parts of the blind which may have to be cut to a predetermined length will be the cover plates l1 and 20.

All of the sections of the upper and lower plates are identical with the exception of the end section which receives the vertical bar 43, and which has the pinions 42, 44 and gears 39, 45 mounted thereon. These sections also have axed thereto the guide rollers 22 which cooperate with the tracks 2l in guiding the blind when it is raised or lowered.

It will thus be evident that the blind embodying the present invention and the features as above outlined, will be less expensive to install than those in present use because it does not have to be custom made to the dimensions of individual windows. Regardless of the width of the window installation because the only xtures to applyy will be the vertical bar 43, the pulleys 21 and 28, the locking pulley 3| and the guide tracks 2l. All other parts of the blind are movable with respect to the window frame, and, there-I fore, need not be aixed thereto.

Fig. 1 of the drawings 4illustrates the blind installed and in fully closed position with the individual strips of material in overlapping relation and the upper and lower ends thereof lfully extended. When it is desired to open the blind by rotating the individual strips, it is merely necessary to actuate the arm 4I which will reciprocate the lower rack 38 and the upper rack 46. This movement of the racks in mesh with the respective pinions will cause a simultaneous rotation of all strips about their longitudinal axes. The blind may be lowered mechanism associated with the upper cords 25 and 23, whereupon gravity will permit the upper part of the blind to move downwardl;7 along the guide tracks 2i. Thev lower end ofthe blind may be raised by releasing the locking mechanism 3| associated with the cord 30, whereupon the springs 34 within eachof the roller members will exert a force suiiicient to raise the blind. This action of raising the lower end and of lowering the upper end may be performed as shown' in Figs. 2 and 3, or the upper and lower ends may be moved together simultaneously if so desired. This action of raising and lowering the blind may also take place whether the blind strips themselves are in open or closed positions. It is likewise true that the rotation of the strips to open and closed positions may take place even though the bottom of the blind is in raised postion or the top of the blind has been lowere The raising and lowering of the blind will also automatically clean the individual strips due to the action of the replaceable wiping members 49 and 50.

While the invention has been described herein with particular respect to vertically posiaccepte tienedzstrips-'ot material, it will be evident .that if the occasion arises the same devicev may be installedv in a window frame so that the strips are horizontal. The rotating mechanism will still function inthis position to open and close the strips and the opposed: ends of the blind may be moved. towardeach other as desired due to the force of the springs within the roller members.

Changes maybe made in the form', constructionand arrangement of parts from that disclosed. herein without in any way departing from the spirit of. the. invention or sacrificing any of the attendant advantages thereof, provided, however, that such changes fall within the scope oi the. claims appended hereto.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A window blind comprising a plurality of adjacent strips of eXib-ley material positioned in overlapping relation when. closed, roller means at the. opposite. ends. of adjacent strips on which the strips. may be4 rolled., whereby the rollers on alternate strips will be at the saine ends thereof, means at each end. of each strip tor mounting each strip for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof, and. mechanism for rotating all of said. strips and. rollers simultaneously about their axes. at both ends thereof for moving the strips to open. position.

2. A window blind comprising a pliuality of vertically positioned strips of flexible material locatedinoverlapping relation when closed, a roller atl the top of each alternate strip and at the bottom of each. other alternate strip on whichv the strips are adapted to be wound wheny the blind is raised. or. lowered, means to raise the bottom of the blind, and other means to lower the top of the blind.

3. A` Window blind comprising a plurality of vertically positioned strips of ilexible material located in overlapping relation when closed, a roller at the top of each alternate strip and at the bottom of. eachother alternate strip, said strips adapted to bewound on said rollers when the blind is raised or lowered, a top plate and av bottom plate on which the respective upper and lower rollers are mounted, thereby to provide upper and lower' assemblies, guide means along each side ofthe blind,.other guide means on said top and bottom plates cooperating with said first guide means, means to elevate the lower assembly along said guide means, and means to lower said upper assembly along said guide means.

4. A windowI blind comprising a plurality of vertically positioned strips of iiexible material located in overlapping` relation when closed, a

roller at. the. top .of each alternate strip and.

at the bottom of. each. other. alternate strip,

said strips adapted tol be woundv onsaid rollers when theV blind is4 raised or lowered, means to raise the bottom of. the blind, means to lower the top of the blind, and wiper means on each of said rollers, adapted to wipe clean the individual strips each time the blind is raised. or lowered.

5. A window blind comprising a plurality of adjacent strips of flexible material positioned in.

overlapping relation when closed, rollers at the opposite ends of adjacent strips, said strips adapted to be wound on. said rollers when one end of said blind is movedv toward the other endv thereof, meansA to move the ends of the blind toward. or away from each other, and wiper means associated with each of said rollers adapted to wipe clean. the individual strips each time one end of the blind is moved toward or away from the other. end.

6. A window. blind comprising a plurality of individual sections, each of said. sections includ.- ing an elongated strip of exible material and. a roller at one end of said strip, and means for mounting a plurality of said sections on a com.- ;fnon supportat each end thereof with the rollers of adjacent strips at. opposite ends thereof, whereby each support willbe. freely movable toward and away from the other support.

7. A window blind comprising a plurality of individual. sections, each of said'sections including an elongated strip of iiexible material and a roller at one end of saidstrip on which said strip is adapted to be. wound, wiperI means associated with said roller and positioned. in contact with bothv sides of said strip andv adaptedto wipe the surfaces of. said strip when it is wound or. un- Wound from said roller, and means for mounting a plurality of said' sections on 4a common. support at each end thereof with the rollers of adjacent sections being locatedv at opposite ends thereof, whereby each support will be freely movable toward and away froml the other support.

AARON LIA- LIGHT. MORRIS FINE.

References Cited in' the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 855,046 Auld Dec. 28', 1886` 428,570' Naylor, Jr May 20, 1890 541,346' Eckert June 18, 1895 544,371 Ortmann Aug. 13, 1895 580,697 Kraemer Apr. 13, 1897 965,441 Conway July 26, 1910 2,173,275 Houmere Sept. 13, 1939 2,386,695 Lister-Torsen Oct. 9, 1945 2,520,272. Boppet al Aug. 29, 1950 

